Shropshire's Cound to return to County Cricket League Premier Division
Cound's improved performance in the second half of last season has earned them a second crack at the Shropshire County Cricket League Premier Division next year – despite finishing in the bottom two.
League bosses have confirmed that the Harnage Road side will be playing in the top-flight again in 2014.
There had been fears that two teams would be relegated which would have seen Cound go down with Wroxeter, who have since merged with Shrewsbury-based side Grove.
But league bosses have opted to relegate just one side, with two promoted from Division One.
League spokesman Adam Phillips said: "We took the view that Cound had earned their place. If you look at their results in the second half of the season they would probably have finished in the top half if they had matched them in the first half."
Cound lost eight of their first 11 matches in the division, but they improved to win four of their matches in the second half.
Bosses confirmed the news following a meeting to agree the league's new structure for 2014.
Under the plans, divisions Four and Five have been re-branded as equal, parallel divisions named 4A and 4B respectively.
The former will see matches played exclusively on Saturday's while the latter will see games played on Sundays.
